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Gaudeamus igitur
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" e Brevitate Vitae"and "Gaudeamus"redirect here. For the work by Seneca the Younger, see De
D
Brevitate Vitae (Seneca). For the Gaudeamus Foundation and Prizes, see Gaudeamus Foundation.
For the rodent genus, see Gaudeamus (rodent).

"De Brevitate Vitae" ("On the Shortness of Life"), more commonly known
as "Gaudeamus Igitur" ("Let Us Rejoice") or just "Gaudeamus", is a
popular academic commercium song in many European countries, mainly
sung or performed at university graduation ceremonies. Despite its use as a
formal graduation hymn, it is a jocular, light-hearted composition that pokes
fun at university life. The song dates to 1287[1] and was already known by
the time of founding of the first European university, the University of
Bologna. It is in the tradition of carpe diem ("seize the day"), with its
exhortations to enjoy life.

It was known as a beer-drinking song in many ancient universities, and is

the official song of many schools, colleges, universities, institutions, and
student societies.

Postal card with symbols of

traditional German student life
Contents of 1898

1 Content
1.1 Lyrics
2 Performances
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

Content
The lyrics reflect an endorsement of the bacchanalian mayhem of student life while simultaneously retaining
the grim knowledge that one day we will all die. The song contains humorous and ironic references to sex
and death, and many versions have appeared following efforts to bowdlerise this song for performance in
public ceremonies. In private, students will typically sing ribald words.

The song is sometimes known by its opening words "Gaudeamus igitur" or simply "Gaudeamus". In the UK,
it is sometimes affectionately known as "The Gaudie". The many centuries of use have given rise to
numerous slightly different versions.

Johannes Brahms quoted the hymn in the final section of his Academic Festival Overture. Sigmund
Romberg used it in the operetta The Student Prince, which is set at the University of Heidelberg.

Lyrics

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Below is an 18th-century version of the song (C. W. Kindleben, 1781), with a translation to English. This
version uses the convention that consonantal i and u in the Latin are written as j and v respectively. The
word antiburschius ("anti-student") is not really Latin, but has been invented based on the German word
Bursche, meaning "young fellow" or "student".

When sung, the first two lines and the last line of each stanza are repeated; for instance:

Gaudeamus igitur
Juvenes dum sumus.
Gaudeamus igitur
Juvenes dum sumus.
Post jucundam juventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus —
Nos habebit humus.

Latin English

Gaudeamus igitur Let us rejoice therefore

Juvenes dum sumus. While we are young.
Post jucundam juventutem After a pleasant youth
Post molestam senectutem After a troubling old age
Nos habebit humus. The earth will have us.

Ubi sunt qui ante nos Where are [they] who before us
In mundo fuere? Were in the world?
Vadite ad superos Go to the heavens
Transite in inferos Cross over into hell
Hos si vis videre. If you wish to see them.

Vita nostra brevis est Our life is brief

Brevi finietur. Soon it will end.
Venit mors velociter Death comes quickly
Rapit nos atrociter Snatches us cruelly
Nemini parcetur. It spares no one.

Vivat academia! Long live the academy!

Vivant professores! Long live the professors!
Vivat membrum quodlibet Long live each student!
Vivant membra quaelibet Long live all students!
Semper sint in flore. May they always be in their prime!

Vivant omnes virgines Long live all girls

Faciles, formosae. Easy and beautiful!
Vivant et mulieres Long live mature women also,
Tenerae amabiles Tender and lovable
Bonae laboriosae. Good [and] productive.

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Gaudeamus igitur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaudeamus

Vivat et respublica Long live the state as well

et qui illam regit. And he who rules it!
Vivat nostra civitas, Long live our city
Maecenatum caritas [And] the charity of benefactors
Quae nos hic protegit. Which protects us here!

Pereat tristitia, Let sadness perish!

Pereant osores. Let haters perish!
Pereat diabolus, Let the devil perish!
Quivis antiburschius Let whoever is anti-student
Atque irrisores. As well as the mockers!

Performances
A performance of the first, most characteristic strophe was recorded in mid-20th century by the Italian-
American tenor Mario Lanza, and is still available under the title "Gaudeamus Igitur".

An excerpt of the song was performed by cast members of the television series The West Wing during the
episode entitled "Debate Camp".

The song is sung in Howard Hawks' Ball Of Fire by a number of academics at a party where they are
celebrating the upcoming nuptials of a professor played by Gary Cooper.

It was also performed as the musical theme of the classic 1951 Cary Grant film People Will Talk,
delightfully "conducted" by Grant. This movie is a remake of the German Frauenarzt Dr. Praetorius, in
which actor/director Curt Goetz performs that scene with the same music in the movie based on his own play
and screenplay.

A fairly modern vocal version is sung during graduation ceremonies in the movie Lord Love A Duck.

The International University Sport Federation (FISU)adopted the song like his anthem which was played
during the medal-awards ceremonies and the openning ceremonies of the Universiades

See also
Ars longa, vita brevis
Anthem

References
1. ^ http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/admin/graduation-and-conferments/awards-ceremonies/on-the-day/gaudeamus-
igitur---a-translation.cfm

External links
De Brevitate Vitae performed by the Roosevelt Academy Choir (http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=pwT2vtH7g4A&)

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Gaudeamus Igitur, lyrics in Latin, English, German, Finnish and Esperanto, midi and mp3 recordings
(http://ingeb.org/Lieder/gaudeamu.html)
Hoisting of the FISU flag during the openning ceremonies of the XXV Summer Universiade Belgrade
2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T00ZdvYMZRI&feature=related:)
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Categories: Commercium songs | Latin words and phrases

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